State to commence case against DSP Tehoda on March 19

by Helena Selby

The prosecutor in charge of the contentious cocaine-turned-soda powder saga involving the Head of the Commercial Crimes Unit of the Police CID, yesterday told the court that the state was likely to begin trial of the case on the next adjourned date.

The Principal State Attorney, Mr. Anthony Rexford Wiredu indicated to the court, presided over by Mrs. Audrey Kocouvie-Tay that he would be ready with witnesses to give evidence in the case against the accused person, DSP Gifty Mawuenyegah Tehoda.

Meanwhile, the prosecutor had complained about the accused person’s failure to comply with the bail conditions given to her by the Fast Track Court (FTC), adding that the accused person had failed to report once a week to the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), where she could be formally charged with the substituted charges.

The accused person, who is currently on charges of abetting and undertaking an activity without lawful authority is on a GH¢100,000.00 bail with 2 sureties, one to be justified. The case was therefore adjourned to March 19, 2012 for hearing.

Presenting the facts of the case, the Principal State Attorney, Mr. Wiredu, had informed the court that following directives from the Vice President, John Mahama on December 4, 2011, to the BNI to launch investigations into the loss of 1020grams of cocaine, which was tendered as evidence before a circuit court on September 2011 and admitted without objection.

According to the prosecution, the following day, September 28, 2011, the defence counsel objected to the evidence, indicating that it was not cocaine.

Mr. Wiredu further told the court that evidence would be led to show that one Mr. Yankey and Serwah Djabah, uncle and sister of Nana Ama Martins told a witness in the case that they have been able with the help of DSP Tehoda, to turn the cocaine into Soda powder after the judge had turned down some monetary rewards given him.

The prosecution indicated that an amount of GH¢4,000.00 was meant to be given to the trial judge, who handled the case in which Nana Ama Martins was charged for possessing cocaine, and GH¢1,000.00 was meant for one Lawani, a court clerk, adding that a family member of Nana Ama Martins, one Beatrice Naab had confirmed the act.

The prosecution noted that the witness was asked not to tell anybody about the role played by DSP Tehoda, adding that the witness mentioned having contacted Mr. Kobla Senanu, counsel for Nana Ama Martins and demanded money from Serwah Djabah to pay his legal fees of GH¢10,000.00.

It is the case of the prosecution that Serwah Djabah has indicated that she had no such money to pay the legal fee so, according to the witness; they agreed to sell off the property of Nana Ama Martins to off-set the expense incurred in the case.

The court further heard that the uncle of Nana Ama Martins decided to sell the property of his niece to defray the expenses by giving the proceeds to DSP Tehoda, who called Lawyer Senanu to her office, where he paid his legal fees.

“The accused person told the lawyer that they have managed to swap the cocaine into Soda-Carbonate and that he should request for a re-test”, the prosecutor told the court, noting that the advice was followed, resulting in the final discharge of Nana Ama Martins.

Mr. Wiredu told the court that he would lead evidence to show how DSP Tehoda jubilated in her office on hearing the eventual discharge of Nana Ama Martins of charges of possessing cocaine, stressing that the accused person facilitated the swapping of the cocaine exhibits into soda-carbonate.